A journey from Rio’s Atlantic coast to the rewilded hills of Minas Gerais and the flooded dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses.
Few countries have such astonishing diversity as Brazil. This adventure brings together three of our favourite corners of the country, each revealing a very different side of it.
Begin in Rio, exploring the city through its architecture, music and food, then head inland to the rolling hills of Minas Gerais, to one of our favourite places on Earth: an extraordinary wilderness escape and conservation project, set across thousands of hectares of Atlantic forest, waterfalls, lakes and lush grasslands. Continue north to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, where vast fields of white sand are flooded each year with crystal-clear freshwater lagoons, before returning to Rio’s hip hilltop neighbourhood of Santa Teresa for an altogether different perspective of the city.
Every journey we design is tailor-made; consider this itinerary simply as a starting point to inspire your own.
WHEN TO TRAVEL
June to October
SUGGESTED LENGTH
14 days
DAYS 1-3
Rio de Janeiro
With its tropical climate, dramatic setting and lilting samba and bossa nova soundtrack, Rio is one of the world’s great cities. Cradled by mountains swathed in rich emerald jungle, Portuguese colonial architecture sits alongside bold modernist landmarks and a world-famous coastline.
Base yourself at Hotel Emiliano, our favourite address on Copacabana. Spend your first day with a private guide exploring the city’s historic centre, from the Praça XV to the iconic buildings and landscapes of Oscar Niemeyer and Burle Marx, before taking to the air for a helicopter flight over Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Guanabara Bay and the vast Tijuca Forest. By night, we’ll take you to a favourite Ipanema restaurant.
Another day is devoted to the city’s food and music scene. Wander neighbourhood botecos and markets with a food guide, stopping for ice-cold chope and Brazilian snacks. In the evening, learn the basics of samba before following your guide to an intimate roda de samba (samba circle) where musicians and regulars gather until the small hours.
Leave time to experience Rio’s beaches as Cariocas do. Join a game of frescobol, swim beneath the Dois Irmãos peaks at the eastern end of Ipanema, or settle beneath a striped umbrella with a caipirinha while vendors weave between volleyball courts carrying fresh coconut water, queijo coalho and slices of chilled watermelon.
DAYS 4-7
Atlantic Forest, Waterfalls & Mountains in Minas Gerais
Leaving the coast behind, travel inland by road to the rolling green hills of Minas Gerais and the extraordinary Ibiti Projeto: a visionary regenerative hospitality and conservation project set across 6,000 hectares of rewilded Brazilian wilderness. A beautifully restored eighteenth-century farmhouse sits at its heart, and more than 300km of trails lead through lush Atlantic Forest and open grasslands to wild swimming spots and hidden waterfalls.
Days can be as active or as relaxed as you please. Follow the 13km trail through the forest to the Big Family, a collection of gigantic iron sculptures set on a hilltop overlooking the reserve, ending with a lakeside churrasco barbecue and an afternoon swimming from the jetty. Set out by mountain bike to visit the community village of Mogol, exploring limestone caves and paddleboarding at quiet swimming holes along the way – or join the reserve’s conservation team to learn about their work protecting the endangered northern muriqui, the largest monkey in the Americas.
One night, leave the farmhouse behind and climb to the reserve’s highest point, where a simple hilltop cabin is perched on a ridge. Arrive in time for sunset, soak in the outdoor bath overlooking the mountains beneath star-filled skies, then wake early for a breakfast at first light as the mist lifts across the valley.
DAYS 8-11
Dunes & Lagoons in Lençóis Maranhenses
Return to Rio and catch a flight north to São Luís, then continue by road to Santo Amaro, gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. During the dry season, rainwater collects between the white sand dunes, forming thousands of freshwater lagoons that exist for just a few months each year.
Stay at Casa Oiá, an intimate all-inclusive Brazilian guesthouse that has redefined what a stay in Lençóis can be. Each day, set out by 4×4 into the park with a private guide to explore different corners of the park and surrounding landscapes.
Hike and quad bike across the dunes, stopping to swim and paddleboard in quiet lagoons, or kayak along the Rio Alegre through flooded forest and reeds. Visit the tiny settlement of Rancharia for a home-cooked lunch with a local family, or head out with local fishermen through the mangroves at Travosa before sitting down to a lunch of oysters, freshly caught fish and sarnambi cooked over an open fire. There are sunrise walks, candlelit sunset dinners set in the dunes, fat-bike rides across the sand and boat trips to hidden lagoons.
DAYS 12-13
Return to Rio
Return to Rio, this time to the bohemian hilltop barrio of Santa Teresa, where the century-old yellow tram climbs through impossibly steep streets past colourful murals and crumbling Belle Époque mansions. Far removed from the rhythms of Copacabana and Ipanema, it’s a neighbourhood best explored on foot.
Stay at Hotel Santa Teresa, a beautifully restored former mansion set within tropical gardens overlooking Guanabara Bay. Spend your final day at your own pace – browse independent galleries and ateliers, linger over a long lunch at Aprazível, one of Rio’s most spectacular restaurants, or kick back by the pool with a caipirinha. As evening falls, end your journey at one of Santa Teresa’s historic samba clubs or neighbourhood bars, where live music spills onto the streets long after dark.
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Conde Nast Traveler Specialists every year since 2017
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